HOLDSTOCK & MURPHEY'S "SAN FRANCISCO SHANTIES" PAGE 1
OH CALIFORNIA
J.Nichols words1858, Steven Foster Melody
I came from Salem City with my wash bowl on my knee
I'm going to California, the gold dust for to see
It rained all night the day I left, the weather it was dry
The sun's so hot I froze to death. Oh brothers don't you cry
Chorus
Oh California, that's the place for me.
I'm off to San Francisco with my wash bowl on my knee
I jumped on board the Lisa ship and traveled o'er the sea
And every time I thought of home, I wished it wasn't me
The vessel reared like any horse that had of oats a wealth
I found it wouldn't throw me, so I thought I'd throw myself.
I thought of all the pleasant times we had together here,
I thought I ought to cry a bit but couldn't shed a tear.
The pilot's bread was in my mouth, the gold dust in my eye
Although I'm going far away, dear brothers don't you cry
And when I get to Frisco boys, it's then I'll look around.
And when I see the gold lumps there, I'll pick them off the
ground.
We'll scrape the mountains clean me boys, we'll drain the rivers
dry,
A pocket full of rocks bring home, Oh brothers don't you cry.
SANTY ANA
We're sailing down the river from Liverpool
Heave away, Santy Ana
Around Capehorn to Frisco Bay
Way out in Californio.
So heave her up and away we go,
Heave away, Santy Ano
Heave her up and away we'll go
All on the plains of Mexico.
She's a fast clipper ship and a bully good crew,
A down east Yankee for her captain too
There's plenty of gold so I've been told,
There's plenty of gold so I've been told,
Back in the days of forty-nine
Those were the days of the good old times
When Zachary Taylor gained the day,
He made poor Santy run away,
General Scott and Taylor too,
Made poor Santy meet his Waterloo
Santy Ana was a good old man,
Till he met his uncle Sam.
When I leave this ship I'll settle down,
And marry a girl named Sally Brown.
Around cape Horn through the sleet and snow
To me Hooda, Hooda, Do Dah Day.
Blow boys blow, for Californio
There's plenty of gold so I've been told
On the Banks of the Sacramento.
Around cape Horn with the sksyl set
Around Cape Horn we're all ringing wet
Around the Horn up to the line,
Were the bullies for to make her shine,
Were the Buckos for to make her go
To make her go to San Francisco.
Ninety days to Frisco Bay
Ninety days is a dam good pay.
Sing and heave and heave and sing.
Sing and make those handspikes ring.
Them was the days of the good old times
Back in the days of forty nine.
CALLERFORNIE
Words By J.P. Robson Tune Alley Croaker 1849
Oh Hinny Geordie, Canny man, you know I love you dearly
For you I gave up Baggy Crooks and used Tim Targent queerly;
Billy Benson wanted me to wed, but man I couldn't spurn ye,
Oh hinny can you think of this and gang tea Californie,
Oh Californie, foolish Californie, l
Like honey gloves my hart will bust if you gang to Californie
Why Mary hold yer wenching gob me minds made up for certain,
Me picks and spades are in me case, in the morn I'll soon be startin.
I'll soon be hiking on the sea and plowing round Cape Horney
And in the seem I'll hue for gold when I get to Californie
Oh Californie, bonny Californie,
The very clods upon the street is gold in Californie.
Oh you may rue me collier lad when in the waves yer sprawling.
When crocodiles and unicorns are at yer hoggers haulin,
You'll not look like a Geordie man, you'll catch a cold and turn ye,
You'll wish to be at home with me and far from Californie,
Oh Californie shame on Californie,
Bob Stoker says it's none but fools that goes to Californie.
Yer wrong I tell yer Mary lass just read the papers hinney
The place is very like the mint another coast of Guinea!
But mind you once I've heard it said the cannibals will bone ye,
And make gold ointment of yer bairns when you get to Californie,
Oh Californie why not Californie?
Why Mary lass, I can thrash them all, I'll conquer Californie.
Well consider Geordie as yer wife I'd never turn contrary,
If you must go then take the lass you calls yer bonnie Mary
But well I know before you go yer trembling at the journey;
So lad take me on the boat, so where's yer Californie.
O Californie ticing Californie,
I wish we folks were not so poor to want ye Californie.
SACRAMENTO
Oh around Cape Horn we're bound for to go,
To me Hooda, To me Hooda,
Cheer up me ducks and gang wi me and never heed the danger,
Us collier lads works hard fer nowt and still to death's no stranger,
Like Whittington I hear the bell that says come on yer Geordie
ALL THE WORDS TO SAN FRANCISCO SHANTIES PAGE 2
Golds better far than hewing coal, oh dear this Californie
Oh Californie we're coming Californie
Farewell to slate, cold, damp, and blast, Hurrah for Californie.
Now miners if you listen I'll tell you quite a tale,
About the voyage around Cape Horn they call a pleasant sail.
We bought a ship and had her stowed with housing, tools, and grub,
But cursed the day we sailed away in the poor old rotten tub.
JOHN KANAKA
I thought I heard the old man say.
John Kanaka naka To Li Ay
There's work tomorrow but no work today.
John Kanaka naka To Li Ay
Chorus To li aye-O to li aye
John Kanka naka to li aye
We're bound away from Frisco Bay
We're bound away at the break of day.
It's just one thing that grieves my mind.
To leave my wife and child behind.
They'll wave farewell down on the quay.
To wait and fear and weep for me.
Were bound away around Cape Horn,
Where you wish to Christ you've never been born.
The bosun said before "I'm through,
You'll curse yer mother for having you".
It's rotten wheat and weevily bread,
And it's pump or drown the old man said.
It's one more pull and that'll do.
And we're the bullies for to pull her through.
THE FRISCO SHIP
Oh our ship she lay by Frisco Bay,
To me way hay oh I O
Oh our ship she lay by Frisco Bay,
A long time ago
Our smart Yankee clipper lay out in the bay
All waiting a wind for to get underway.
Chorus
Oh I remember well the lies they used to tell
Of gold so bright it hurt the sight and made the miners yell
We sailed from New York City with the weather very thick
The second day we puked up boots oh wasn't we all sea sick
I swallowed pork tied to a string, which made a dreadful shout
I heard it hit the bottom but I couldn't pull it out.
We all were owners in the ship but soon began to growl.
Because we had not ham and eggs nor now and then a fowl
We told the captain what to do for him we had to pay
The captain swore that he was boss and we should him obey
We lived like hogs penned up to fat the vessel was so small,
We had a doff but once a week and twice a day a squall,
We had a meeting now and then and kicked up quite a stink,
The captain cursed us fore and aft and wished the tub would sink.
Off Cape Horn we lay becalmed kind providence seemed to frown,
We had to stand up day and night none of us dared sit down.
Some had half a dozen boils 'twas awful sure as your born.
Someone tried it on the sly and got pricked by the horn.
We arrived in Valpariso where the women are so loose
All got drunk as usual got put in the calaboose
We patched our ragged rotten sails and then made ready for sea
But all the crew, except the cook, were uptown on a spree
We sobered up, set sail again on short allowance of course
With water thick as castor oil and rotten beef much worse
We had the scurvy and the itch and any amount of lice
The medicine chest went over board with blue-mass cards and dice.
We arrived in San Francisco and all went to the mines
We left an agent back to sell our goods of various kinds
A friend wrote to say our agent Mr. Gates
had sold the ship and cargo, sent the money to the states.
WHISKY JOHNNY
We sailed from Frisco in a full rigged ship,
We sailed from Frisco in a full rigged ship,
Her masts was silver, her yards was gold,
Her masts was silver, her yards was gold.
Now if ever you go to Frisco Town
Whisky, Johnny
Mind you steer clear of Shanghai Brown
Whisky for me Johnny oh
Bound for new York with a cargo gold
Bound South round the Horn through the ice and the cold.
He'll dope your whisky night and morn,
And then Shanghai you round cape horn.
If ever I sets me feet on the shore
I'll become the owner of a little rum store.
Two months wages they are dead
And a donkeys breakfast for your bed.
If ever I gets me feet on the land,
I'll become some young ladies fancy man.
Oh Shanghai Brown and Larry Marr,
Their names are known both near and far.
Oh it's a long time and a very long time
It's a very long time since I wrote this rhyme.
COMING AROUND THE HORN
John A. Stone Words 1855, L.V.H. Crosby Melody
Oh Larry Marr and Shanghai Brown
They robbed me up and they robbed me down.
They fit you up with dumboat gear,
That'll have to last you half a year.
HOLDSTOCK & MURPHEY'S "SAN FRANCISCO SHANTIES" PAGE 3
Carpet slippers made out of felt,
An a nice clean yarn rope for a belt.
A suite of oilskins made out of cotton,
And an old sea chest with bricks on the bottom.
Oh the Barbery coast is no place for me
Keep an eye on your drink when you come from sea.
Or else you'll wake up on a cold frosty morn,
On a three skys'l yarder bound round the horn.
On a three sky'sl yarder bound round the horn,
You'll wish to Christ you'd never been born.
Oh I thought I heard the old man say,
Just one more pull and then belay.
HO FOR CALIFORNIA
We've formed our band were all well manned,
To journey afar to the promised land,
The golden shore is rich in store
On the banks of the Sacramento shore.
Then ho boys ho for Californio
There's plenty of gold so I've been told
On the banks of the Sacramento
The gold is thar it's every whar,
We dig it out rich with an iron bar,
And where it's rich with spade or pick
We dig out chunks as big as a brick.
We expect our share of the coarsest fare.
And oft times sleep in the cold damp air
We'll all sleep sound on the cold damp ground,
Except when the wolves come howling around
As off we roam o'er the dark sea foam,
We'll not forget kind friends at home
And memory kind still brings to mind the love of the girls
we left behind.
The land we'll save for the bold and brave,
And there shall never be a slave,
Let foes recoil from the suns of toil,
We'll make California Gods free soil.
HUMBUG STEAMSHIP COMPANIES
John A. Stone Words. Turner melody
The greatest imposition that the public ever saw,
Are the California steam ships that sail to Panama.
Their a perfect set of robbers and accomplish their designs,
By a general invitation of the people to the mines.
Chorus
So come along, you that wants to go,
The best accommodation and passage very low.
Our boats they are large enough don't be afraid
The Goldengate is going down to beat the Yankee Blade.
So Come along don't be afraid.
The Goldengate is going down to beat the Yankee Blade.
They got opposition on the route, with cabins very nice,
So they advertise to take you for half the usual price.
They get thousands from the mountains and then deny their Bills,
You have to pay the prices or go back into the hills.
When you leave from San Francisco they treat you like a dog.
The victuals that they feed ain't fit to feed a hog.
The drunken mate's a cursing and a damning you around.
Wishing that the boat would sink and every one would drown.
The captain goes to dinner and begins to curse the waiter,
Knocks him out of hearing with a thundering big potato.
The cabin maid half-crazy knocks the meat dish all to smash.
The steward comes a running with a plate of moldy hash.
You are driven round the steerage, like a drove of hungry swine.
You're kicked ashore at Panama by the Independent line.
Your baggage is thrown overboard the likes you never saw,
A trip or two will sicken you from going to Panama.
SHANGHAI BROWN
When first I went to Frisco boys, I went upon a spree,
My hard earned cash I spent it fast, I got drunk as drunk could be,
Before me money was all gone, or spent on some old whore,
I made up me mind and was well inclined to go to sea no more.
Refrain
No more me, no more, To go to sea no more,
I made up me mind and was well inclined to go to sea no more.
That night I spent with Sally Brown too drunk to roll in bed,
Me clothes was new me money was too, in the morn
with them she fled,
A feeling sick I left the house and went down to the shore,
There I went me head all bent and the crimps at me did roar
Did roar, did roar, the crimps at me did roar.
There I went., me head all bent and the crimps at me did roar
The first chap I ran afoul of was Mr. Shanghai Brown,
Well I asked him neat if he'd stand the treat; he looks me up and down.
He said " The last time yer was paid off you chalked me up no score.
But I'll give yes a chance and I'll take yer advance,
and send yer to sea once more".
Once More, etc
They shipped me aboard of whaling ship bound for the Arctic Sea,
Where them cold winds blow and the ice and snow would
even make Jamaica rum freeze.
I had no clothes I had no gear, me money spent on a whore,
T'was then I swore that when on shore I'd go to sea no more.
No more, etc.
Some times we caught them sperm whales boys and sometimes
we caught none,
With a twenty-foot oar stuck in yer paw you pulled the whole day long,
And when the night it came around and yer nodded on your oar,
A man must be blind to make up his mind to go to sea once more.
Once more, etc.
ALL THE WORDS TO SAN FRANCISCO SHANTIES PAGE 4
A RIPPING TRIP
You go a-board a leaky boat and sail for San Francisco,
You've got to pump to keep her a float
You have that by jingo.
The engine soon begins to squeak,
But nary thing to oil her
Impossible to stop the leakRip goes the boiler.
The captain on the promenade,
Looking very savage;
Steward and the cabin maid
Fighting bout a cabbage;
All about the cabin floor,
Passengers lie -sick OH
Steamers bound to go ashoreRip goes the physic
"Pork and beans" they can't afford,
For second cabin passengers;
The cook has tumbled overboard
With forty pound of "sassengers";
The engineers a little tight
Bragging on the Main Line,
Finally gets in a fightRip goes the engine.
Cholera begins to rage.
A few have got the scurvy;
Chickens dying in their cage
Steerage topsy-turvy.
When you get to Panama,
Agents want a back-load;
Officers begin to jawRip goes the railroad!
When home, you'll tell an awful tale
And always will be thinking
How long you had to pump and bail,
To keep the tub from sinking.
Of course you'll have a glass of gin,
"Twill make you feel so funny;
Some city shark will rope you inRip goes your money!
THE FIVE GALLON JAR
On the Barbary coast there lived a man,
His name is Larry Marr,
And in the days of the Cape Horn Trade,
He played the Shanghai game.
His wifes name it was Mary Anne,
They was known both far and near.
They never missed a lucky chance
To use the big five gallon Jar.
In the old Virginia low lands, low lands low,
In the old Virginia low lands low.
A hell ship she was short of hands,
Of full red blooded tars,
Misses and Larry primed the beer
In the big five gallon jar,
Shellbacks and farmers just the same
Sailed into Larry Marr's,
And sailed away on a skys'l ship,
Around Cape Horn so far,
Away from all those girls and boys,
helped by the big five gallon jar.
There were five or six old drunken tars
Standing around the bar,
And Larry he was serving them
From the big five gallon jar.
Their names are known both near and far,
As is the Cape Horn bar,
And the dope they serve to old Jack Tar,
From the big five gallon jar.
So from the Barbary coast steer clear me boys
Steer clear of Larry Marr,
Or else dam sure Shanghaied you'll be,
By the big five gallon jar.
Shanghaied away on a Skys'l ship,
Around cape Horn so far.
Away from those girls and boys,
And the big five-gallon jar.
CALIFORNIA BOY
Going to California is a dreary life
Robs young girls of their heart's delight
Causes them to weep, and causes them to mourn
The loss of a true love, never to return.
Captain, oh captain, bring me a boat
That I may over the ocean float.
I'll hail every vessel that passes me by.
And there I will inquire for my California boy.
Brown is the color of my true love's hair.
His cheeks resemble the roses fair.
If he'll come back and bring me joy,
None will I ever have but my California boy.
She called for a chair to sit upon
Pen and paper to write it down.
With every line she shed a tear,
With every page she cried "Oh my dear".
Dig my grave both wide and deep
Put marble stones at my head and feet
Upon my breast put a turtle dove
To show all the world that I died for love.
Going to California is a dreary life
Robs young girls of their heart's delight.
Causes them to weep and causes them to mourn
The loss of a true love, never to return.
HOG EYE MAN
Oh the Hogeye man is all the go,
When he comes down to San Francisco.
With yer Hogeye, Railroad Nellie with a Hogeye,
Row ashore in the Hogeye Oh, She wants the Hogeye man.
Oh Nellie's in the garden shelling peas,
Her long yellow hair's hanging down to her knees.
HOLDSTOCK & MURPHEY'S "SAN FRANCISCO SHANTIES" PAGE 5
She won't wed a sailor she'll damned if she do,
They got giggies on their feet and they can't wear a shoe.
We're homeward bound this very day.
Hurrah me boys were homeward bound.
Oh the Hogeye man is the man for me,
He lives down in Tennessee
Were homeward bound for Frisco bay,
To Frisco bay in three months and a day.
In San Francisco there she'll wait
Till the Hogeye man sails through the gate.
Oh heave a way, she's up and down,
We're homeward bound it's a joyous sound.
Hand me down my walking cane,
I'm going to see my darlin again.
I thought I heard the old man say,
Oh Frisco Bay in three months and a day.
Nellie's in the garden on his knee,
The Hogeye man's home from the sea.
Them Frisco Girls has got us in tow,
We'll hall away and roll and go.
Who's been hear since I've been gone,
Big fat sailor with his sea boots on.
And it's good by to Katie and good by to Nell,
And it's good by again and fare ye well.
In San Francisco so they say,
The Hogeye man goes around all day.
And now I hear our first mate say,
Its one more pull and then belay.
Yes the Hogeye man is all the go,
When he comes down to San Francisco.
The Dying Californian
Lay up nearer, brother, nearer,
For my limbs are growing cold,
And thy presence seeming nearer
When thine arms around me fold
I am dying, brother dying,
Soon you miss me in my birth,
For my form will soon be lying,
Neath the ocean's briny surf
Listen brother, catch each whisper,
' Tis my wife I speak of now,
Tell oh tell her how I missed her
When the fever burned my brow.
Oh my children, heaven bless them,
They were all my life to me,
Would I once more caress them,
Before I sink beneath the sea.
'Twas for them I crossed the ocean
What my hopes were I'd not tell,
But they gained my orphans portion
Yet he doeth all things well.
Tell them I never reached the haven,
Where I sought the precious dust,
But have gained a port called heaven,
Where the gold will never rust.
Lay up nearer brother nearer
For my limbs are growing cold,
And thy presence seemeth nearer
When thine arms around me fold
HOMEWARD BOUND
We're homeward bound I heard them say,
Good bye fare you well, good by fare you well,